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RP: Setareh Wing [Mission Three Debrief] Sweet Dreams

Ametheliana

Head in the Stars
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VSV Arha
Wardroom
Ruh 24, 941
6:00, Commonwealth Standard Time


Naak stood in the wardroom that was decorated with images of the patron Saints on the walls that glowed teal and shone bright in the darkened lighting of the smokey room. She took a long pull from the hookah and got up, saying to the woman, Nanise Elisara, sitting next to her a soft mutter of a farewell as she departed to go towards the bar, where she ordered straight Mazrit brandy and nursed it.

The black skinned Ekia Verha came up to Naak and soon the two were deeply engaged in conversation with one another about the morality and lawfulness of Organoid Natural Intelligence usage. Neither opposed the other, though both seemed to have a deep passion about the subject.

It was apparent they were not to be interrupted, though Naak had called for a debrief in this very wardroom not ten minutes ago. It would seem she had other things on her mind.
 
VSV Arha
Wardroom


Dr. Zoren walked into the wardroom, dressed once again in his surgical scrubs. He threw his surgical cap into the trash as he entered and took a seat at the edge of the bar. He was tired and drained...

He grabbed a glass and set a bottle down next to him and poured some up to the rim of the glass before shooting the whole thing in one go. He grimaced at the sting in his nostrils and savored the burn the lingered in his throat. "That's the stuff." He said softly, pouring another glass.

He turned and appeared as if he was going to say something, but Naak seemed to be in conversation. The doctor didn't want to interrupt her, so he just stayed silent and drank some more. After the day they had all gone through yesterday, he could use something strong.
 
VSV Arha
Crew Shrine

It was ironic, when you thought about it. "Shaanti" had meant "silence" in the ancient language of their ancestors, who'd come from stars very distant from their own. Shaanti's parents probably had zero clue that their son would turn out to be the embodiment of silence himself.

Many of his kind preferred to meditate with others, or in the famous "Ahni" fashion. But not Shaanti. He particularly enjoyed Bahbi, or "solo-Jafar".

This was his usual routine. Following a strenuous workout, it was to the showers, then immediately to the shrine. First, Shaanti would thank the Saints, for guiding him along his path. Then, he would thank the "living" ship, for dutifully keeping the crew safe and providing a home. Last, he would bless his family and friends, wishing them good health and fortune. The silent prayers would be followed by five minutes of utter silence. Broken only by the quiet, melodic chime of a bell for ambiance. Grass-scented incense was a must as well. It was a scent that could drag him back to hot, lazy summer afternoons in the grassy meadows of his home. Although he loved his new calling in the Astral Vanguard, he hated being aboard a ship. It was so cold, so artificial, so lacking in life despite the fact that the ship itself was technically a living being.

The data rod buzzed beside his cushion. Shaanti's violet eyes snapped open, the curdatl becoming mildly annoyed by the intrusion into his sacred routine. But his calm returned when he realized that it was not a pointless social calling from one of his friends in his current wing. It was summons from Lanranr Behea herself, asking for him to meet in the wardroom for a mission debriefing. Shaanti smiled in fond remembrance of the envy on his wingmates' faces as he was called into action by no other than the leader of Setareh Wing. The Astral Vanguard's "elite". Surely though, it was to be short-lived. The mission had been a success, and his usefulness to the Lanranr was up. Now, he would attend this debriefing, and return to his wing without question.

Wardroom

Shaanti was next to enter the wardroom after Zoren, dressed in a duty uniform without the jacket. Not having much to say after yesterday's events, he chose a couch out of the way of everyone else, his bulk causing him to sink in.
 
VSV Arha
Wardroom


Altair was eating a warm bowl of soup, still trying to get over his injuries. His side hurt like hell, and it probably still wasn't fully healed. He groaned.

"Uuuuughhh... that crash really hurt. At least the colony was okay though."
 
VSV Arha
Wardroom


For once, Irfan was rather speedy arriving. By the time she was walking in, her hair trailing in an odd-form. It was simply a lengthy strip of unbound hair, the ponytail much more wild and less tame like it oft was when in the field. The many strands hanging behind her were just as brilliant none-the-less, but it ensured she appeared exactly as she was: completely unwinding. She didn't cut in on their boss, rather she was tapping away at a datarod with her lovely Ki Lea. She gave the mini-monitor a wink, knowing all too-well that her walk had been plenty of time to convey her message. By the time she was clipping it off and back down, the cheery Eyr Ranr was already looking toward the drinking and chatty boss-lady with her devious intents. Not that she was going to get close and slap one of her favorite buttocks. Instead, she moved and flopped onto a comfy chair within the wardroom, her hair spilling around her and all over the furniture as she let out a relaxed sigh and crossed her shapely legs.

"Paradise~... nowhere near as fun as skydiving, but a comfy chair after being one of the best is nice~!"

In particular, it meant she was fairly close to the seated position of Zoren as she looked over and set her big-brow gaze on his posterior.

"Among things~... grumpy men drinking was always considered a loss of virtue... the best men are always sinners or something like that, mmm~?"

A laugh ensured she popped back and into her chair to gaze toward the ceiling, her cheerful mood likely to become contagious among such a sack of sorry and quiet folk... or at least make her seem a lot crazier by being the only one in her oft great mood.
 
VSV Arha
Wardroom


...a single step.

That was what separated Amaksille Ketlalli from their first real assignment. What separated them from their first real wing, their first real briefing. Yes - all of this, surely, they had trained for. Trained hard, and shown exceptional aptitude. Flown dozens of times in live-fire exercises. But the reality of it, it was always different from the exercise. A journey always began with a single step. One more, and Ketlalli would be farther from their once-comfortably cloistered existence than they ever had been before. A deep breath. They crossed the threshold.

Not a thread was out of place on Ketlalli's duty uniform, from the conspicuous marker of junior rank to the fitted white gloves. Similarly (and rather uncharacteristically, for Mox), their hair was neatly tended and parted. First impressions, right? Their razor attentiveness lapsed, somewhat, however, as they took in the sight of the wardroom. And, oh, how very casual it seemed, just now. Their commanding officer was deeply distracted. Their wingmates to be, scattered about in the midst of quite an assortment of activities, none of them attentively being debriefed.

F---! This was the right place and right time, wasn't it? Mox cast their gaze in search of someone - someone else of similar baby-ranger status. For advice from on the level...
 
Wardroom

VSV Arha

"Among things~... grumpy men drinking was always considered a loss of virtue... the best men are always sinners or something like that, mmm~?"

A laugh ensured she popped back and into her chair to gaze toward the ceiling, her cheerful mood likely to become contagious among such a sack of sorry and quiet folk... or at least make her seem a lot crazier by being the only one in her oft great mood.

"In wine, there is wisdom," Shaanti mused to Song with a small grin, remembering a saying from his grandfather. "In beer, there is freedom. Yet in water, there is bacteria. We should follow the Vaytulri's example, for it is an exercise of the mind."

VSV Arha
Wardroom


F---! This was the right place and right time, wasn't it? Mox cast their gaze in search of someone - someone else of similar baby-ranger status. For advice from on the level...

Shaanti glanced over and saw Mox, quickly recognizing that lost, deer-in-the-headlights stare as one he'd commonly held since first joining the Vanguard. He knew the feeling, being a new recruit himself, and thus nodded silently.

"Do not worry, you're in the right place."
 
VSV Arha
Wardroom


Altair turned to look at the new face, and decided to get up to greet the newcomer.

"Hi, welcome to the wing. My name's Altair Khorvash, what's yours?" He said as he held out his hand to shake, his glossy hair disheveled because he had been in too much pain to comb it lately.
 
Wardroom

"Do not worry, you're in the right place."

That was reassuring. Mox didn't relax visibly, but internally, relief certainly flooded back into their calmness receptors. Though they remained very much at attention, body language the spitting image of a fresh recruit on a first assignment, Mox did incline her head politely to Shaanti, by way of thanks.

"Thank y-" Frack, voice too high. Mox corrected quickly, down to a pleasant contralto rather than their more natural modal mezzo. Altair bought them a moment's diversion to reestablish their androgynous bona fides, for which Mox was internally quite grateful. "Amaksille Ketlalli. Mox."

They responded in kind, gripping Altair's hand firmly.

"An honor to be here. Thank you."
 
Wardroom

Karuah stepped into the wardroom in her full duty uniform, a rarity since she usually preferred her pilot suit or mechanic suit, but she had the time to get into uniform so she decided too. After the mission she had spent her time trying to work out her nerves after having to disarm two bombs, she knew the stuff fired from her VANDR was just as dangerous, but having to deal with it without Saeid was a whole different situation. She just wanted to be able to relax, but the debrief came first, so she found a seat for herself and sat down with a sigh.
 
Wardroom

"Right!" Naak said with a start. "Time to get to it!" She patted her conversation companion on the shoulder before she took one last sip, then put a hand on the tall stool. She swung her far leg off of it and turned around on it, then leaned on the countertop, back to the bartender.

"We had a fun time with the scum that call themselves New Veyrin. Well, their tricks and tactics are become anything but 'new' and the more out of hand this gets, the stronger we are going to have to oppose them. Due to the Setareh Wing's prowess and abilities in the last few missions, we have been asked to go down to Fort Tapir to do some training exercises with the new recruits of the wing as well as those not graduated. It should be pretty routine, but it will give us a chance to sharpen our skills, the skills of other youngsters, as well as make new friends."

She paused at that statement, eyes drifting around the room to each individual Iromakuanhe gathered.

"As we should be doing now. Resume your conversations and get to know one another. Some of you are, as I said, more new to the wing than others and I would like it if everyone got more than acquainted." She looked to Irfan at that statement, almost adding something particular about not taking it too far, but her green and blue eyes slid over the room one more time before landing on the so-far quiet FIOMNI. She smiled at the bubblegum-haired Iromakuanhe girl and then looked back to Ekia.

As she took her place back on the stool, she asked, "Where was I?"
 
Wardroom

Swimming salaciously past Ketlalli with a certain jovial air, an unfamiliar civilian woman moved through the door behind them and seemed to flow behind the bar in one fluent motion. Tall, clean cut, but utterly unprofessional, one would assume they were support staff, but... Well, a pair of organoid wing-pods sticking out of their lower back said otherwise.

Short ivory-white hair, pale skin, black horns and narrow red eyes... They certainly were not a registered pilot...

"How do you like it?" A light, rolling tone came to ears 0f the similarly built Naak Behea. The woman was already grasping a glass, brewing up some kind of cocktail that involved a generous dosage of Mazrit with what looked like Porun juice and a dash of minty Rysari. Whatever she was doing, it started foaming. "This one has a kick, so if you haven't had it before, you should hold your nose..."

"Oh, I guess this information isn't on the server, is it?..." A sudden change in tone, through their hands and eyes were still entirely dedicated to perfecting the bizarre drink. One of the pods just unfolded on its own, rejointing itself into a long mechanical arm, which reached into their grey work-coat pocket and produced a datapad to show the officer. It was authorization papers from the Astral Vangaurd for a Solan Starworks contractor. A frame technologies specialist. "...Divine presence at our engines, and all that..."
 
Wardroom

Shaanti turned his head back to the sofa, and noticed he'd been joined by... er... what was her name...?

...Right. Karuah. The one who had saved their collective asses yesterday. Shaanti felt it prudent to at least say something.

"Your work disarming the explosives was commendable, Karuah," said the large man suddenly, in a voice that Karuah probably recognized as the faceless sniper from the comms. She'd already seen his handiwork, but now she had a face to match it to. A visage that seemed eternally calm and at ease, if not slightly detached. "Without your efforts, thousands would have perished."

A simple "good job, champ!" probably would have sufficed, but this was Shaanti. If you weren't going to speak a lot, might as well make your words count.
 
Wardroom

Karuah turned to Shaanti as he spoke up, they were both sitting so she did not notice just how much taller than her the man was. "Yes thank you..." For a moment the gears in her head spun, she knew she recognised the man, but she needed a moment to figure out from where. It did click with her in the end and her facial expression changed to a warm smile. "You were the sniper, the one that helped me stop the first group? That shot was amazing, almost terrifying. We don't tend to get people of such skill in infantry combat in this unit." She tried to make conversation, realising that Shaanti was new to the wing and she wanted to make him feel at home, he looked to her like he wasn't opening up just yet.
 
Wardroom

Shaanti's lips curled into a surprisingly warm smile. He bit back the obvious comment about Irfan's... unorthodox tactics, but took a second to come up with a response. Boasting was not his style. And he especially hated those who boasted after a single successful operation to people they barely knew.

"Thank you. I hope to do more... if the Setareh were to call on me again. But as I understand it, I was summoned temporarily from my current wing based upon my specialty. It fills me with great sorrow that I will have to return after this debriefing. Fighting along side your wing was... exhilarating."

Little did Shaanti know that as of this moment, the ink on his transfer documents was drying, and that he himself was now a part of the elite.
 
Wardroom

Zoren rolled his eyes at Irfan, "they also say silence is golden..." the doctor replied to the young woman. He took another drink and enjoyed the burn again as Naak turned to everyone and spoke.

He nodded silently as she spoke. A routine training run with a batch of trainees? Hell, considering all that they went through in the past few weeks this could be considered a vacation. He allowed himself a slight smile. "Sounds like a vacation to me, Boss." He said raising his glass. He then turned to the others. "Good work on the last operation everyone." He said downing his glass and pouring another.
 
The worrrrrrrrst orders. ...and I would like it if everyone got more than acquainted. How did that even work?

...okay, so Mox wasn't a complete social charity case, but they were definitively not comfortable with initiation, or approaching people who outranked them, or Mazerinii ice geese (don't ask), or the concept of unidirectional time, or their mother's first lover, or. Well. Lots of things, clearly. Mox took in a deep breath, stealing themselves to go! And be social! And then Thao Thuyet swept past them like a salubrious angel and Mox found themselves cast completely off their balance again, and staring quite impertinently.

Caught themselves at it. Promptly averted their eyes.

Shaanti seemed safe. Even if the individual now next to him, less so. Mox did not set themselves down immediately close, precisely. Simply near enough to observe, listen, and try to pick up cues. There was only so much that training could do to break an Ivuori's history with isolation. Mox had known nigh-everybody in their mountain home. Here, nobody.

Carry on. Keep calm. Learn first, engage later. Stick to the method, Mox, and all would turn out for the best.
 
Wardroom

Karuah frowned some at Shaanti's words, they made sense, but they were also a bit of a poor situation for the team so she spoke up. "If you enjoy the team, maybe you should transfer to our unit. We are frame pilots, but there are plenty of times we need to get out to handle a situation. We could really use some experienced infantry specialist for those kinds of situations." They weren't close nor did they even know each other before the operation, so she tried to keep her words as objective as she could. "I think everyone on the team will be more than happy to welcome you as one of us."
 
Wardroom

"Pft. Pft!"

Irfan couldn't help but make her trademark noise at the suggestion that didn't even need words. Naak was her boss lady, but to assume Irfan would resort to such drastic levels as to push things too far? There were plenty of cute butts, new and familiar, for her to size up from her chair. The arrival of someone not-quite-like anything she'd ever seen back home on the airships, a woman of white-hair equality to her own silvery locks. Giving a small flick of her hand among the massive strands of her loosed locks, she made good effort to study her posterior while she spoke with their boss-lady. But with everyone else directing comments her way, it was hard to focus in on one individual's rump. Her perceiving emeralds shifted their glance over to the others, putting on her best attempt at a pout. It looked completely wrong thanks to just how smugly confident and ecstatic she always was.

"Lots of blabberin~, whole lot of nothin'~... you ever hear that rhyme, grumpy butt?"

Irfan pushed herself up, all sense of professionalism in the over-confident ace's stride lost in exchange for her jutting her hip to the side in an out-of-place display of feminism as she looked over at Karuah and Shaanti.

"As for whether we'd all be happy to welcome him, as long as his butt is in sight and he doesn't get me dragged down in combat? I definitely think he belongs."

She strode right up to join the pair properly, giving a passing smirk to the new face of someone rather pretty trying to build up their confidence, before finally settling in just to the left of Shaanti. Her hips swayed, giving him the gentlest of bumps as her hair seemed to sway like a giant cape in its unbound state.

"Isn't that right, mmm~? You totally belong with the best! You actually were pretty good out there... not that we all weren't. Everyone was good. Precisely the best... right?"

The Eyr Ranr was now shining her confident emeralds at Shaanti, hoping to get nice and friendly with their new transfer. It was her job, at least in her head, to be the ace that united the group around her energy. And ensuring that Ki or the Boss-Lady weren't going to get mad at her for not being friendly enough.
 
Wardroom

Wardroom

Karuah frowned some at Shaanti's words, they made sense, but they were also a bit of a poor situation for the team so she spoke up. "If you enjoy the team, maybe you should transfer to our unit. We are frame pilots, but there are plenty of times we need to get out to handle a situation. We could really use some experienced infantry specialist for those kinds of situations." They weren't close nor did they even know each other before the operation, so she tried to keep her words as objective as she could. "I think everyone on the team will be more than happy to welcome you as one of us."

Shaanti nodded, almost beaming from the warm assurance he was receiving.

"Thank you. If the Setareh are in need of a marksman, then I will try-."

Wardroom

Irfan pushed herself up, all sense of professionalism in the over-confident ace's stride lost in exchange for her jutting her hip to the side in an out-of-place display of feminism as she looked over at Karuah and Shaanti.

"As for whether we'd all be happy to welcome him, as long as his butt is in sight and he doesn't get me dragged down in combat? I definitely think he belongs."

She strode right up to join the pair properly, giving a passing smirk to the new face of someone rather pretty trying to build up their confidence, before finally settling in just to the left of Shaanti. Her hips swayed, giving him the gentlest of bumps as her hair seemed to sway like a giant cape in its unbound state.

"Isn't that right, mmm~? You totally belong with the best! You actually were pretty good out there... not that we all weren't. Everyone was good. Precisely the best... right?"

The Eyr Ranr was now shining her confident emeralds at Shaanti, hoping to get nice and friendly with their new transfer. It was her job, at least in her head, to be the ace that united the group around her energy. And ensuring that Ki or the Boss-Lady weren't going to get mad at her for not being friendly enough.

Shaanti momentarily lost his train of thought with the arrival of Irfan; the one who stumbled into a car the day before, dangerously exposing herself to enemy fire. For just a second, Shaanti thought that she was coming onto him, and so was desperately thinking of something to say in return, given that she was his superior. But no, he realized, she wasn't. This was par for the course, it seemed.

"Indeed. The operation was effectively executed, even if some of the tactics employed were... unorthodox." replied the curdatl slowly, trying not to outright say that he was still slightly fearful of heading out into the field with her in the future. Then, Shaanti rose to his full height of nearly seven feet, and "floated" to the bar, obtaining a glass of water. That was the best way that his current wingmates were able to describe the hulking man's movement. Floating. It was so silent, so smooth that it almost seemed as if he defied gravity.

Shaanti came back and sat down between Karuah and Irfan, muttering a quiet "excuse me". That's when he noticed Mox, another new face, seeming a little intimidated of joining the discussion. Maybe just waiting to find a good place to jump in?

"Hello. I am Shaanti. What is your name?"
 
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